Right at that moment, a cheerful ringing on the doorbell announced that Grandma’s bridge ladies had arrived.
Grandma became completely frozen.
What should she do? How could she look after them when Dani was so sick?
Grandpa went and opened the door. Immediately the small hall was filled with voices.
Grandma looked at Sadie, flustered.
“Off you go to your guests!” said Sadie. “I’ll look after Dani.”
She took Dani into the bathroom to wash her while Grandpa looked for a nightie and changed the bed.
Finally, Dani was tucked up in bed and Sadie went to get more medicine, the last bit Grandma had.
“You mustn’t bring this one up,” she said firmly. “Just swallow it and think of something fun!”
“What sort of thing?”
“Whatever you like best in the whole world!”
“Playing with Ella,” said Dani weakly.
“Yes, of course. Think that: Ella, Ella, yes, yes, yes!”
Sadie popped the pill into Dani’s mouth and held out a glass of water.
Dani drank it and thought of what Sadie had said. And the medicine slid down.
“That’s the way! Soon you’ll feel better,” Sadie promised.
“How much better?”
“So much that you’ll want a sandwich with cheese and tomato.”
“And what will happen then?”
“We’ll see.”
Sadie looked astonished.
“Would you like that?”
“I want…”
Dani swallowed bravely.
“What do you want?” Sadie repeated.
Dani did the best she could: “I want Dad to be happy again.”
Then she sank down in the bed and nodded off.